How emrosenf started their button or icon journey

Company name

Avocado Hills

Overview

I've built an application that provides a better experience for Wikipedia. The main feature is that every article is available offline -- no internet required. I am trying to spread open knowledge to the unconnected world so that it is truly accessible by all. This is especially important at a time where some governments are shutting down the internet!

This, along with great attention to typography and UI design makes this app a must have for all sorts of interesting people (see below) on the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Mac.

The tagline for the app is: "The world's knowledge in the palm of your hands".

Help me take the app to the next level. The app icon communicates the personality of the app. It speaks to the quality and builds trust and credibility. My current app icon is just plain awful and boring: a giant "W". The app is going through an entire rebranding. New name and new icon. I need your help.

I promise that this contest will be full of guidance and feedback. Lots and lots of it.

Tell us a bit about who you are and the people you reach

Here are a few ways actual users are using the app (in no particular order):

-- Casual users solve crossword puzzles, settle arguments, and browse in bed
-- Commuters use it to kill time on the train
-- US Soldiers download the app before deploying overseas so that they can study and learn
-- A teacher in Haiti uses the app to teach in areas with no internet
-- Business travelers use it to get work done at the airport, on the plane, and in hotels where internet is not available or very expensive
-- Travelers use it as a travel guide in foreign countries where roaming internet is expensive
-- Homeschooling parents use it as a teaching aid with their children

Requirements

From this contest, I am looking for an app icon refresh. The design also needs to be usable outside of the app context as a logo as well.

The colors, the design, and the theme are all up for grabs (with guidelines of course). I'm looking for fresh design and inspiration. Something that strikes people's eyes and makes them excited to have it on their phone. The icon should make sense for the app.

Possible ideas: I've attached a document with a keyword brainstorm that I did and possible icon ideas just to jog the brainstorming process. Feel free not to use them -- I'm sure that yours are 1000x better anyways.

It should:
-- Adhere to Apple HIG
-- No stock icons/images
-- No shine
-- Must stand out
-- Be very crisp and clear
-- Represent a high-quality, professional application
-- Should look great at 57x57 to 512x512px
-- Preferably no text (unless there's a really good reason)
-- Does not feature a "W" like the previous logo